Assessing placement of nasoduodenal tube and its usefulness in maintaining nutrition in critically ill patients.

Nutritional supplements to the critically ill patients are one of the major issues to be discussed. Enteric feeding is advantageous over parentral feeding because it maintains gut integrity and prevents bacterial translocation. Small intestinal feeding shows significant beneficial results. Nasoduodenal tube placement and its confirmation by serial pH monitoring and by radiological examination was done; and time taken to reach duodenum was assessed. This study was done in 40 critically ill patients, who were divided into two groups (Group 1 and Group2). Early enteric feeding via a nasoduodenal tube was found to be preferable with parentral therapy when there are no contraindications. Advantages of nasoduodenal tube feeding in critical ill patients were that feeding can be continued even in the absence of bowel sounds and passage of flatus. Insignificant complications were noted.